Great Outdoors Month 2009: Hocking Hills Hikes in Ohio

June is Great Outdoors Month and a wonderful time to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate your natural surroundings by participating in fun outdoor activities. One appealing outdoor activity to consider is embarking upon some local hikes. One of the benefits of such a hike is that it allows you to spend quality time with your family in the midst of some beautiful scenery; on many hiking trails, even the family pet can be involved. Quality time in the context of new scenery offers a refreshing and invigorating change of pace from your usual routine, which contributes towards positive new memories and which can also spark personal creativity. In addition to stimulating creativity, hikes can also stimulate your cardiovascular system and serve as a fun way to get some exercise.

Whether you're an experienced hiker who is ready to negotiate some steep inclines and rugged terrain or someone who is new to hiking and would prefer a leisurely nature walk at a relaxed pace, there's sure to be a hiking trail to get your blood, brain, and creative juices flowing. When deciding on a trail that's a good fit for you, if you'll be walking with your family or another group, remember to take your companions' levels of fitness and hiking experience into account, as well as your own. If you're not very familiar with nearby hiking trails, spend some time researching online or at your local library. When my husband and I recently decided to embark upon some new hikes together, I was excited by the idea, but a bit daunted by the prospect of trying to figure out where we should go. However, I soon discovered that searching online for nearby hiking trails was more user-friendly than I might have anticipated. Use keywords such as 'Great Outdoors Month', 'hiking trails', 'state parks', and 'parks & recreation' in combination with your local city (or other nearby areas you might be willing to travel to) and your research should soon lead to some promising results and appealing options to further investigate.

During my own research, for example, I was aware of the Hocking Hills as being an area that is touted for its unique natural scenery, as well as being reasonably close enough to our home in Columbus, Ohio that we would be willing to make the drive for a good hike. In fact, my husband & I had even been to a few different parts of the Hocking Hills before, for a lovely autumn wedding and for a romantic winter getaway, during which we spent the night at a secluded rustic cabin in the woods and then visited the celebrated Old Man's Caves area the next day. At that time, we had enjoyed a short winter walk and some distinctive scenery, but since the terrain had been snowy and icy, we had been unable to partake of a full-fledged hike. Despite this past experience and my general awareness of the Hocking Hills, I knew it was a fairly large region and I did not have extensive knowledge related to names and locations and other specific details of the various hiking trails that might be available. Fortunately, after just a few minutes of online research based on my general knowledge, I found an informative and wonderfully helpful website that details the entire Hiking Trail System at Hocking Hills State Park: http://www.hiddenhocking.com/hiking_trail_system_at_hocking_h.htm.

This website includes the names of the various trails, directions to their locations, maps of their courses, and details about each trail's scenery, terrain and approximately how long it takes to hike. Using this handy informational resource as our guide, my husband and I were able to easily choose a trail that sounded like a good fit for us on a particular day, drive to the trail location, and then hike to our heart's content. So far, we have embarked upon the Cantwell Cliffs Trail one weekend and the Old Man's Cave Trail the following weekend, since we wanted to experience that scenery again during a different season. Both trails have offered us a lovely change of pace with some gorgeous natural scenery (including unique rock formations, cave features, and even waterfalls), a pretty good cardiovascular workout, and a nice opportunity to spend time together while being active, appreciating our natural surroundings, and enjoying some pretty weather. We hope to hike more of the Hocking Hills trails within the next few months.

Local hiking trails offer a wonderful opportunity for enjoying both the great outdoors and the company of your significant others, so here's hoping your locality offers some hiking trails that are just as appealing as those of the Hocking Hills. Even if you can't make it out to a state park or other official hiking trail, though, something as simple as taking the dog for a walk in a nearby small park can be a good change of pace, too. You can also consider strolling or biking around your own neighborhood at different times of day for a new perspective on your outdoor surroundings.

After you've chosen your hiking trail, nature walk, or neighborhood stroll location, prepare for your special outdoor excursion by considering some of the following provisions: a leash and doggie bags for your pet--a book to read in case you feel like taking a breather at an especially lovely vantage point or a blank book in which to jot down notes, observations, or creative prompts inspired by the new scenery-bottled water and a few natural snacks such as fruit or granola bars in order to stay hydrated and recharge your energy when needed-and of course, your camera. Enjoy your family's companionship in a new setting, enjoy the natural beauty of the great outdoors, and don't forget to take a few pictures.